Vertically swinging boom having asymmetrical actuation



July 19, 1966 P. D. GERNHARDT ETAL 3,

VERTICALLY SWINGING BOOM HAVING ASYMMETRICAL ACTUATION Filed Jan. 6, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

PAUL D GERNHARDT$ CURTlg W. VERRELL JM ATTORNEYS July 19, 1966 P. D. GERNHARDT ETAL 3,26 ,476

VERTICALLY SWINGING BOOM HAVING ASYMMETRICAL ACTUATION Filed Jan. 6, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 N oE LL I I 1 I: I k

July 19, 1966 P. D. GERNHARDT ETAL VERTICALLY SWINGING BOOM HAVING ASYMMETRICAL ACTUATION 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 6, 1965 mm \KI mm um I NVE NTOR.

0. GERNHARDT w w. VE ELL 1/60/11 J'LQv/Jflm ATTORNEYS July 19, 1966 P. D. GERNHARDT ETAL 3,261,476

VERTICALLY SWINGING BOOM HAVING ASYMMETRICAL ACTUATION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 6, 1965 INVENTOR.

W- VE w ATTORNEYS y 9, 1966 P. D. GERNHARDT ETAL 3,261,476

VERTICALLY SWINGING BOOM HAVING ASYMMETRICAL ACTUATION Filed Jan. 6, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hill? IlIIIIIII FIGJZ PAUL 0. GERNHARDT BY CURT s W. VERRELL ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,261,476 VERTICALLY SWINGHNG BOOM HAVING ASYMMETRICAL ACTUATION Paul D. Gernhardt, Overland Park, Kans., and Curtis W. Verrell, Fairview Park, Ohio, assignors to The Ohio grhiss Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of Filed Jan. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 423,808 8 Claims. (Cl. 21235) This invention relates in general to derricks, and more particularly to derrick structure which provides for rota tion of the derrick in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis, and also provides for pivoting of the derrick in a generally vertical plane.

An example of the environmental use of the derrick of the invention is the utility truck field wherein the derrick may be mounted on a vehicle, and which derrick may be adapted for handling and erecting various objects, such as for instance telephone or telegraph poles. The derrick may also be used to support and operate an earth boring anger, as well as its usual function of lifting. Such derrick being as aforementioned rotatable in generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis, and being pivotal in a generally vertical plane about a generally horizontally disposed axis, provides for convenient positioning of the derrick with respect to the vehicle, without necessitating continuous repositioning of the vehicle.

The present invention provides a novel structural arrangement for providing for the pivotal movement of the derrick boom in a generally vertical plane and about a generally horizontal axis, and for the swinging movement of the derrick boom in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis. The invention also provides a novel arrangement of powered jack mechanism for the vehicle, for stabilizing the vehicle chassis during operation of the derrick.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of derrick.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of derrick having a vertically swingable boom as well as a boom that is rotatable about a generally vertical axis, and embodying novel means for accomplishing such movement of the boom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of derrick of the above type which utilizes a single reciprocal motor unit for actuating the 'derrick in a generally vertical plane, and with such motor unit being so arranged as to be in non-interfering relation with a vehicle super structure on which the derrick is mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a derrick of the latter type which embodies a novel, relatively compact arrangement of reciprocal motor units for rotating the derrick in a generally horizontal plane, and through a range of approximately 360.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel extensible and retractable jack mechanism for stabilizing a vehicle on which a derrick is operatively mounted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a generally diagrammatic, perspective view of the derrick of the invention as mounted on a utilitytype of vehicle, and illustrates an earth boring auger supported by the boom and disposed in storage position thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, broken side elevational view of the derrick boom showing the mechanism for causing swinging movement of the derrick in a generally vertical plane, and about a generally horizontal extending axis;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the rearward end portion of the FIG. 2 derrick;

3,261,476 Patented July 19, 1966 ice FIG. 4 is a rear end, elevational view taken generally along the plane of line 44 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the rear end of the derrick structure of FIGS. 2 to 4 with the boom having been removed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view showing the mechanism for rotating the derrick in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis;

FIG. 7 is a sectional plan View taken along the plane of line 77 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a sectional plan view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional View taken generally along the plane of line 99 of FIG. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 10-40 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane of line 1111 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, broken, elevational view of the novel stabilizer or jack mechanism for use with the derrick, to stabilize the mounting vehicle, and showing the mechanism in operative position;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the stabilizer mechanism shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, elevational view taken generally along the plane of line 1414 of FIG. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 15 is an end view taken generally along the plane of line 1515 of FIG. 12, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now again to the drawings, there is shown a wheeled utility vehicle 10 having a truck body including superstructure 10a, which carries a movable derrick 12 thereon. The derrick boom 14 which may be of the telescopic or extensible type, may be pivotally mounted as at 16 (FIG. 2) on a frame 18 for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane and about the generally horizontally extending axis 16.

The derrick boom may mount a sheave assembly 19 at its outer end, adapted for coaction with a cable 19a, for handling a load. Suitable means may be provided for selective retraction and extension of the boom, such means being, for instance, a reciprocal fluid powered motor unit 20 mounted interiorly of the boom.

An earth boring mechanism 22 may be supported on the boom and may be selectively coupleable to either the outer extendible section 24 of the boom or to the inner section 24:: of the boom. The arrangement for so accomplishing the latter may comprise a collar-like tool supporting member 26 mounted on the extendible section of the boom, and which is adapted for pivotal connection to the earth boring tool. The supporting member is preferably of the type which is rotatable with respect to the boom in a direction transversely thereof so that the supporting member 26 and associated earth boring tool can be disposed beneath the boom for digging operations, or laterally to a side of the boom for storage. Fluid transmitting lines 27 may be provided on the boom for carrying actuating fluid to and from the fluid motor driven earth borer.

The aforementioned framework 18 for supporting the boom may comprise a fabricated, box-like base portion 28 (FIGS. 1 and 4) offset laterally to one side thereof (FIG. 4) and attached to :1 depending tubular stem portion 28a. Tubular portion 28a is adapted to be received in a rotatable relation in a stationary, hollow pedestal 30, in a manner to be hereinafter described. Side wall structure 32, 32a projects upwardly from base portion 28 and mounts the boom pivot 16 thereon, adjacent the upper portions thereof.

Pivoted as at 34 to side wall structure 32a of the frame 18 and pivoted at its other end, as at 36, to bracket 37 projecting laterally from the boom, is a reciprocal double acting fluid powered motor unit 38, which motor unit is adapted to pivot the boom in a generally vertical plane about the pivotal axis 16. The motor unit 33 is mounted high on the frame 18 and avoids interference with any of the body superstructure a of the vehicle, thus enabling the derrick to be conveniently mounted on most existing designs of vehicle bodies, without necessitating reconstruction or redesigning of such body.

In accordance with the invention, to aid in preventing twisting of the boom due to the offset relation of motor unit 38, there is provided a rod or bar 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which may be pivotally attached as at 42 to the boom bracket 37 and pivotally attached as at 44 to the frame 18 at pivot 16, outwardly of motor unit 38. This bar structure is disposed in relatively close proximity to the boom and to the boom actuating motor unit 38, and thus does not interfere with swinging or rotation of the boom about the generally vertical pedestal 30.

As aforementioned, the generally hollow pedestal 30 is mounted upon the truck body, and preferably adjacent a corner thereof as shown in FIG. 1. Pedestal 30 preferably comprises two sections 44, 44a subsequently joined, as by welds, along separation joint 46 (FIG. 6), after assembly of the derrick with section 44. Bearings 48 may be provided for rotatably mounting the derrick stem 28a, and sleeve 49 and nuts 50 may be provided for locking stem 28a in place against axial movement with respect to pedestal 30. Lower pedestal section 44a is adapted, at its upper end, to mount upper section 44 thereon in partially telescoped relation, as shown, and at its lower end is adapted for attachment as by means of bolts 52, to the horizontal base frame of the vehicle. Pedestal section 44 may be provided with a strut 53 (FIG. 1) for strengthening the pedestal.

Rotatably mounted in lower pedestal section 44a and as by means of bearing structure 54, is a lower stern assembly 56 coupled to upper stem 28a as by means of lugs 58 (FIGS. 6 and 10) on the upper end of stem 56 and received in slots 58a (FIG. 2) adjacent the bottom extremity of stem 28a. Lower stem 56 is provided with drum 60 detachably connected thereto as at 61 and thus rotatable therewith about a generally vertical axis, and about bearing structure 54. Bearing structure 54 may be detachably connected to the vehicle base frame by ring 61a (FIG. 6). Drum 60 may be provided with three sections, 60a, 60b and 600 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Projecting outwardly or laterally from the stationary mast 30 is a housing 62 which can be formed as an integral part of the rear end of the truck, or which may be attached to existing trucks by extending support structure 64 on the vehicle chassis. The housing 62 embodies therein a pair of reciprocal, preferably single acting fluid powered motor units 65, 66 which may secured as at 67 to the housing floor. One (66) of the motor units comprises a pair of vertically disposed pulleys 68, 68a rotatably mounted adjacent the outer end of the associated piston rod, while the other motor unit comprises a single rotatable pulley '70, mounted as by means of U- shaped bracket structure 70a on the outer end of its associated piston rod. Wear strips or slides 72, 72a are disposed beneath the respective pulleys for facilitating reciproal movement of the motor units 65, 66. Chain or flexible means 74, 74a are looped about the respective pulleys 68, 68a and 70, and extend lengthwise of housing 62 to be looped about the respective drum section 60a, 60b and 600, and are attached thereto as at '76 (FIG. 8). The other end or" each chain 74, 74a is at tached as at 77 to the housing 62. It will be seen therefore that extension of one of the motor units 65 or 66 causes retraction of the other, as controlled by suitable valve mechanism (i.e. 78 (FIG. 1)) on the vehicle, and will cause rotation of drum 60 and thus rotation of tubular mast or stem structure 56, 28a about a generally vertical axis, and thus rotation of the derrick boom in a generally horizontal plane. Guides or supports 80 may be provided on the housing 62 in conjunction with cam blocks 82 (FIG. 8) for supporting and guiding the drum actuating chains 74, 74a. The generally loose lug and slot connection between stem sections 280. and 56, and between the latter and drum 60, provides for flexure of pedestal 30 with respect to housing 62 without structural failure of the rotatable drum and stem construction.

An important aspect of the present structural arrangement is that the pedestal and the actuating means, therefore, can be mounted as a unit on a vehicle chassis, and on existing vehicles with minimum reconstruction of the vehicle. It will be seen that reciprocal movement of the motor units will cause a full 360 rotation of the stem members 56, 28a, and thus rotation of the derrick through a full 360, and with a relatively small stroke for the motor units. It will also be noted that stem sections 54, 56 and 28a provide a hollow passageway open at both ends for convenient extension therethrough of fluid transmission lines for carrying pressurized fluid to and from the fluid motor of the earth borer, or for passage therethrough of a winch cable which may extend along the boom and be adapted for winding coaction with a conventional winch mechanism mounted on the vehicle body.

In order to stabilize the vehicle on which the derrick is mounted and maintain the vehicle chassis level during operation of the derrick, there may be provided stabilizing mechanisms 84, 86 extending generally laterally from the vehicle. One (84) of the stabilizing mechanisms may be of the more or less well known pivotal jack type, including an arm 88 pivoted as at 8811 to a bracket 89 depending from the underside of the vehicle, and having a pivotally mounted motor unit 90 connected to the arm, for swinging the arm down to an operative position as shown in FIG. 1, and upwardly to an inoperative position for storage purposes.

The other (86) stabilizing mechanism illustrated, in accordance with the invention, comprises an upper tubular-like member M- which is preferably of polygonal configuration in cross-section, and which may be rigidly mounted in generally diagonal or oblique relation on the vehicle chassis and, as by means of brackets S16, attached to the horizontal base frame 98 of the body. A lower member 100 is disposed in telescoping relation with re spect to the upper member. A reciprocal double acting, preferably flu-id powered motor unit 102 may be disposed interiorly of the members, and is pivotally connected as at 104 to the upper member, and as by means of sleeve 106 and transverse pin 107, and pivotally connected as at 108 to the lugs 109 on lower member.

The lower member is provided with a pivoted foot 110 thereon, which is adapted to engage the ground with the flat base portion 110a and support the vehicle. Foot 110 has lugs 112 projecting upwardly therefrom for attaching the foot to the pivot 108, and a cam 114 may be secured to one of the lugs in laterally oriented relation to member 100. A cam actuator 116 may be fixed to the upper member and project downwardly therefrom so as to automatically move the foot 110 about its axis and to a position where it is substantially within the confines of the vehicle chassis upon predetermined retraction of the motor unit 102. It will be seen therefore that upon sufficient actuation of the motor unit 102 so as to move the lower member 100 telescopically within the upper member 94, the cam actuator 116 engages the cam 114, and swings the foot inwardly into the position illustrated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 12. The flat portion 118 on the cam coacting with the finger-like actuator, locks the foot in inwardly swung position in the retracted condition of the motor unit 102. The upper end of lower member 100 may be cut away or recessed as at 120 (FIG. 12) in the generally L-shaped configuration illustrated, to provide for clearance of member 100 with respect to upper pivot 107 in the retracted position of the stabilizer, while maintaining a maximum overlap for the lower member in its extended operative position. Stabilizer 86 may be generally encompassed with plate structure, as shown in FIG. 1, to even off the rear end of the vehicle. The arrangement is extremely compact and provides good stabilizing characteristics to the vehicle.

From the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawings it will be seen that the invention provides a novel derrick for mounting on a mobile vehicle, and one which embodies a novel arrangement for swinging the derrick in a generally vertical plane and about a generally horizontal axis, as well as novel means for swinging the derrick in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical axis. The invention also provides a novel arrangement for stabilizing the vehicle when the derrick is mounted thereon.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown, or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

We claim:

1. In a derrick comprising a support, a boom pivotally mounted on the support, a reciprocal motor unit extending between the support and boom for swinging the boom in a generally vertical plane, said motor unit being offset laterally from the lengthwise axis of the boom, and means extending between the boom and the support for resisting offset loading applied by the motor unit to the pivotal connection of said boom to said support.

2. A derrick in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means comprises a rod disposed laterally outwardly of said motor unit.

3. A derrick in accordance with claim 2 wherein said rod is pivoted at one end to said boom at the pivotal connection of said motor unit to said boom, and at its other end is pivoted to said support in alignment with the pivotal connection of the boom to said support.

4. A derrick in accordance with claim 2 wherein said support comprises a superstructure frame including a stem depending therefrom, a generally rigid pedestal, said pedestal being generally hollow and receiving said stem therein in rotatable relation.

5. A derrick in accordance with claim 4 including another stem rotatably mounted in said pedestal below the first mentioned stern, means detachably coupling said stems together for rotation as a unit about a generally vertical axis, and powered means operably coupled to said other stem for rotating the latter.

6. A derrick in accordance with claim 5 wherein said pedestal is of sectional configuration, means detachably connecting said first mentioned stem to said pedestal for preventing axial movement of said first mentioned stem with respect to said pedestal while permitting rotational movement of said first mentioned stem with respect to the pedestal, and means holding the pedestal sections together as a unit.

7. A derrick in accordance with claim 5 wherein said powered means comprises a pair of reciprocal fluid powered motor units mounted generally horizontally adj acent said pedestal, and flexible means operably connected to said motor units and to said other stem for rotating the latter upon actuation of said motor units.

8. A derrick in accordance with claim 7 wherein said motor units are mounted in a housing, said other stem extending into said housing, and means in said housing for guiding said flexible means during actuation of said motor units.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,198,793 4/1940 Schroeder 212-59 2,489,326 11/1949 Rockstrom et a1 212-66 2,948,411 8/1960 Lynch 212-66 3,051,324 8/1962 Pohl 212-35 3,096,887 7/1963 Thomas 212-145 3,116,840 1/1964 Carbert et al. 212- X 3,144,138 8/1964 Brown et a1. 212- EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Examiner.

r A. LEVINE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A DERRICK COMPRISING A SUPPORT, A BOOM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT, A RECEPROCAL MOTOR UNIT EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SUPPORT AND BOOM FOR SWINGING THE BOOM IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL PLANE, SAID MOTOR UNIT BEING OFFSET LATERALLY FROM THE LENGTHWISE AXIS OF THE BOOM, AND MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE BOOM AND THE SUPPORT FOR RESISTING OFFSET LOADING APPLIED BY THE MOTOR UNIT TO THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID BOOM TO SAID SUPPORT. 